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6 Ways To Truly Enjoy The Holiday Season and Not Let Stress Get To You

The Holidays are often portrayed as a blissful, fun, and magical time in all the best holiday movies.

You know the scene... the snow falling gently outside, while the kids play a friendly game of Scrabble in the living room and the smell of gingerbread cookies fills the house.

Idyllic as that may seem, wouldn’t you agree when we say that in real life it’s a little more chaotic?

Of course it’s still a wonderful time of year, but with all the parties, planning, and gift buying it can quickly feel like it’s spiraling a little out of your control.

The holidays should be about togetherness; special times with those nearest and dearest to you while enjoying all the little things that make this time of year so beautiful: snowy winter landscape, candy cane hot chocolate, and ice skating with your loved ones.

This is why we have put together a simple guide with 6 of our best secrets to help you de-stress this holiday season, and make more time for the important things!

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

Why juggle all the holiday chores yourself when you can get your family involved and make a day out of it?

Set a day aside right before the busy season begins to clean your house from top to bottom, allowing your home to become holiday ready so you can focus on other things, like perfecting that caramel pecan pie!

Get your family involved, and even make a game out of it so that the kids enjoy helping out.

Get Your Holiday Shopping Done Early

We’ve all been there... leaving our holiday shopping ‘til the last minute. All this causes is more stress and double guessing!

The holidays aren’t all about giving gifts, but if you do like to get your friends and family a little something to show how much you care, try to start earlier this year and make it a goal to be done at least 2 weeks prior to the big day. You’ll save so much time and take a lot of pressure off of yourself.

Make Time For Yourself

This doesn’t have to mean booking yourself in for a spa day, if you love to play guitar and rarely get time for it these days… allow yourself 30 minutes per day to remember old tunes you used to love playing. Or paint that picture you’ve been thinking about all year.

Do what relaxes you for 30 minutes per day… this can do wonders for your mind, especially around the holiday season.

Eat Your Greens AND Fats!

We know how tempting it can be to eat all the cookies, pies, and tarts the holiday season brings… and we’re in no way, shape, or form saying that you should stay away from them…

What you should try to do is one healthy habit per day throughout the holiday season whether it be having a nutritious smoothie each day, a plate of greens with each meal, or even better, a green juice once per day. Not only will this help keep you from overindulging, getting your daily greens will help you stay healthy throughout those holiday parties and get-togethers.

The best foods to help you curb overeating are healthy fats such as avocados, nuts, healthy oils (extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil) and vegetables.

Move Your Body

Speaking of keeping your body healthy this season, don’t skimp on the exercise! If you live in California (where we are), you have no excuse not to get outside for a brisk morning walk. If you’re feeling really motivated, how about a hike?

If it’s snowing in your neck of the woods this holiday season, why not try a group yoga class or get moving right in your living room with a quick video workout.

Laugh A Little (or a lot)!

What are the holidays without a bit of fun! Get out your favorite holiday DVD’s or turn on Netflix and spend some quality time with the family and a bowl of popcorn.

If holiday movies aren’t your thing, why not catch the latest stand up from a renowned comedian?

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Important Safety Information for Obagi Nu-Derm Clear and Blender®

(contains 4% hydroquinone)

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
People with prior history of sensitivity or allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients should not use it. The safety of topical hydroquinone use during pregnancy or in children (12 years and under) has not been established.

WARNINGS:
Avoid contact with eyes, nose, mouth, or lips. In case of accidental contact, patient should rinse eyes, nose, mouth, or lips with water and contact physician.

Sunscreen use is an essential aspect of hydroquinone therapy because even minimal sunlight exposure sustains melanocytic activity.

Contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.

PRECAUTIONS (ALSO SEE WARNINGS):
Treatment should be limited to relatively small areas of the body at one time since some patients experience a transient skin reddening and a mild burning sensation, which does not preclude treatment.

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with topical hydroquinone. It is also not known whether hydroquinone can cause fetal harm when used topically on a pregnant woman or affect reproductive capacity. It is not known to what degree, if any, topical hydroquinone is absorbed systemically. Topical hydroquinone should be used on pregnant women only when clearly indicated.

Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether topical hydroquinone is absorbed or excreted in human milk. Caution is advised when topical hydroquinone is used by a nursing mother.

Pediatric Usage: Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 12 years have not been established.

Use of the product should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients is noted.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
People with prior history of sensitivity or allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients should not use it. The safety of topical hydroquinone use during pregnancy or in children (12 years and under) has not been established.

WARNINGS:
Avoid contact with eyes, nose, mouth, or lips. In case of accidental contact, patient should rinse eyes, nose, mouth, or lips with water and contact physician.

Sunscreen use is an essential aspect of hydroquinone therapy because even minimal sunlight exposure sustains melanocytic activity.

Contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.

PRECAUTIONS (ALSO SEE WARNINGS):
Treatment should be limited to relatively small areas of the body at one time since some patients experience a transient skin reddening and a mild burning sensation, which does not preclude treatment.

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with topical hydroquinone. It is also not known whether hydroquinone can cause fetal harm when used topically on a pregnant woman or affect reproductive capacity. It is not known to what degree, if any, topical hydroquinone is absorbed systemically. Topical hydroquinone should be used on pregnant women only when clearly indicated.

Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether topical hydroquinone is absorbed or excreted in human milk. Caution is advised when topical hydroquinone is used by a nursing mother.

Pediatric Usage: Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 12 years have not been established.

Use of the product should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients is noted.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
People with prior history of sensitivity or allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients should not use it. The safety of topical hydroquinone use during pregnancy or in children (12 years and under) has not been established.

WARNINGS:
Avoid contact with eyes, nose, mouth, or lips. In case of accidental contact, patient should rinse eyes, nose, mouth, or lips with water and contact physician.

Sunscreen use is an essential aspect of hydroquinone therapy because even minimal sunlight exposure sustains melanocytic activity.

Contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.

PRECAUTIONS (ALSO SEE WARNINGS):
Treatment should be limited to relatively small areas of the body at one time since some patients experience a transient skin reddening and a mild burning sensation, which does not preclude treatment.

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with topical hydroquinone. It is also not known whether hydroquinone can cause fetal harm when used topically on a pregnant woman or affect reproductive capacity. It is not known to what degree, if any, topical hydroquinone is absorbed systemically. Topical hydroquinone should be used on pregnant women only when clearly indicated.

Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether topical hydroquinone is absorbed or excreted in human milk. Caution is advised when topical hydroquinone is used by a nursing mother.

Pediatric Usage: Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 12 years have not been established.

Use of the product should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients is noted.